Vacuum filling machine



Oct. 8,-1957 D. w.-'r|ANo ETAL VACUUM FILLING MACHINE Filed July 6. 1955 Oct. 8, 1957 D. W. TIANO ETAL VACUUM FILLING MACHINE Filed July 6. 1955 'Ll' Sheets-Sheel'I 2 ATTORNEY D. w. HANC l- TAL' VACUUM FILLING MACHINE I Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 6. 1955 d 'CIMM-Q u www,

ATTORNEY Oct. 8, 1957 Filed July 6. 1955 D. W. TIANO ETAL VACUUM FILLING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 8, 1957 n.w.1'|ANo Erm. 2,808,856

VACUUM FILLING MACHINE Filed July e. 195s 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 oct. s, 1957 D. w. ANC Em 2,808,856

VACUUM FILLING MACHINE' Filed July e. 1955 7 sheets-sheet e Arm/wer Oct. 8, 1957 D, w.-T1AN0 ErAL 2,808,856

VACUUM FILLING MACHINE Filed July 6. 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 United States Patent() 2,808,856 VACUUM FILLING MACHINE Dominic W. Tiano, Weymouth, and Arthur F. Whitehead, Quincy, Mass., assignors to Pneumatic Scale Corporation, Limited, Quincy, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Y Application `luly 6, 1955, Serial No. 520,216

13 Claims. (Cl. 141-7)` This invention relates to vacuum operated container filling apparatus.

The invention has for an object to provide novel and improved vacuum filling apparatus for filling containers and particularly bottles wherein provision is made for purging the empty bottles with an inert gas in a novel, superior and economical manner immediately prior to the vacuum filling operation whereby to reduce to a minimum the air content of the subsequently filled bottles.

With this general object in View and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the vacuum filling machine and in the various structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

AIn the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is an end view partly in cross section of a bottle purging and filling machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail view partly in cross section of a portion of the purging and filling mechanism shown in Fig. l illustrating the bottles in an elevated position;

Fig. 3 is a detail view partly in cross section illustrating the check valve shown in Fig. 2 in a different position of operation;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the apparatus partly in cross section and illustrating the driving mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a front view partly in cross section showing the driving mechanism as Viewed from the left hand side of Fig. 4; Y

Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating the mounting of the vacuum control valve and the inert gas control valve relative to their respective manifolds shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional detail view of a pneumatically operated valve, shown in its closed position, for controlling the supply of the inert gas;

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 7 showing the inert gas control valve in its open position;

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view of a pneumatically operated pilot valve forming a part of the pneumatic control mechanism to be described, the valve being shown in its closed position;

Fig. 1i) is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing the pilot valve in its open position; I

Fig. 1l is a cross sectional detail view of a pneumatically operated vacuum control valve forming a part of the purging mechanism and shown in its closed position;

Fig. l2 is a view similar to Fig. 11 showing the vacuum control valve in its open position;

Fig. 13 is a cross sectional detail View of a vacuum control valve for controlling the vacuum during the filling operation, the valve being shown in its closed position;

Fig. 14 is a View similar to Fig. 13 showing the vacuum control valve in its open position;

Fig. 15 is a cam diagram illustrating the timing of the valves during the purging operation;

'2,808,856` i Patented Qct. 8, 1957V ICC In general the present invention contemplates a .vacu-v um filling machine having purging apparatus for purging the empty containers with an inert gas, such as nitrogen, to reduce to a minimum the air content of the containers immediately prior to the Vacuum filling operation. The present machine may be used with advantage in filling containers with those liquid food products which are particularly susceptible to contamination upon prolonged exposure to air. The invention is herein illustrated as embodied in a straight line vacuum filling machine of the type illustrated and described in the United States patent to Newey, No. 1,977,138, which is adapted to fill a plurality of bottles in a row simultaneously, and in accordance y with the present invention provision is made for first subjecting a row of empty bottles to vacuum to evacuate 'substantially all of the air therein, and then introducing .an

inertV gas into the bottles to mix with and dilute the remaining air in the evacuated bottles immediately prior to the vacuum filling operation whereby the subsequently filled bottles .will be substantially devoid of air. During the vacuum filling operation the inert gas-air mixture is evacuated and replaced with the filling material. In practice the entire upper portion of the machine is preferably hooded and charged with nitrogen gas to provide an atmosphere of inert gas around the bottles during the conveying, purging and filling operations, and in accordance with another feature of the present invention provision ismade for modifying the action of the filling mechanism at the end of the vacuum filling .operation to prevent excessive evacuation of the gas within the hood through the vacuum filling nozzles when the latter vare removed from sealing engagement with the bottles.-

Referring now. to the drawings which illustrate the different features of the apparatusv as embodied in a'machine for automatically purging and filling bottles, 10 represents a bottle supporting and elevating member which in the illustrated machine is adapted to operatively support a plurality of rows of bottles to thereby permit the bottles in one row to be purged by an inert gas while the bottles in a succeeding row are being filled. |The machine is 'furtherprovided with a row of purging nozzle units 12 anda row of filling nozzle units 14, ,and provision is made, as will be described, for elevating the bottle supporting member at the proper time in the cycle of operation Yof the machine to present the bottles into operative engagement with said nozzle units to enable the purging and filling operations to be performed. Provision is preferably made for feeding the b ottles to be purged and filled intoy the machine upon an incoming conveyer comprising a link belt 20 and for discharging the filled bottles from the machine upon a discharge conveyer 21. ,y

In operation the empty bottlesare deposited on vthe belt 20 and are carried along by the beltuntil they reach a stop 22, see Fig. 4, adjustably supported upon an upright member Z4 forming a part of the machine frame. The link belt 20V runs over an idler sprocket (not shown) at one end of the machine and over a driving sprocket 28 at the other end of the machine. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the driving sprocket 28 is fast 0n a shaft 30 driven through mechanism including a sprocket 32 fast on Vthe shaft 30, a chain 34 and a sprocket 36 which turns free on a studr38 supported in'bracket 39. The sprocket 36 .is prenne@ .with a kerel gear il! atteeliecl there@ and arranged to mesh with a bevel gear 42 attached to a worm wheel 43, and provision is made for continuously driving the worm. Wheel. 43.. Arancia shown, the worm wheel 43 is driven from@ mieter 5.1.5.,4 Senior-ted. upon a leten 47 forming a part of the machine frame, through a belt 48 adrpulley 42 fast on a shaft 5- Tlie .Shaft 53 iS provided with e worm .5.1 which drives. the Worm. wheel 43, the latter being fast upon a cam shaft 52. In this manner a continuous motion is imparted to the conveye; b elt20. to thereby moy@ the. empty' bQlGS. itil-.0 a

4position in which the first bottle rests against'the stop -22 while the machine is running.

'Brovisions malle for? transferring e plurality of the bottles from their powsitiononthel iDQQming conieyer b elt eme ,the bottlesupporting member 1.0. when Athe latter is'in its depressed position with its surface Hush with the surface ofthe conveye'r belt 20 as shown in Fig. 1. As herein shown, provision is made at each cycle of operation for -thus transferring. a number' ofl b Dttles correspondingto the number ofV purging and lling nozzle units 12 and 14 respectively,and during the 'operation 'of the machinej the'transfer" of empty bottles from vthe incoming conveyer' belt 20 to. thebottle supporting'niembe'r 16 operates to transfer the previously purged row of bottles from a position under the purging nozzle units 12 into a position under the'iilling nozzle units 14, and simultaneously. to effectthe transfer of the filled bottlesfrom a position under the`filling nozzle units 14 onto the dis'- charge conveyer 21. p

Y As herein shown', thev bottle pushing mechanism comprises a bar 58 mounted on a slide 60 guided in brackets 62'mounted on the platen 474 of the machine. The slide 60 has: a reciprocating motion imparted to it by, a cam 64 which operates'ona lever V66 througha cam roll 68 carried by the cam Vlever 66. The 'lever 66 is rockingly mounted'ona rocker shaft 5.0, and the`upper vend of the earn lever 66 has' Ia forked `end72 which embraces a roll' 74`free on'a .stud76f fastened in a plate'78 ad. ustably clamped 'to a bracket`79. attached to the slide 60.` The camv 64 is attached 'to the cam shaft 52 and rotates withitf. A 'counterbalance Weight 67 is attached to thecam'lever' by 'a 'chain 69 running over a pulley '7.3- free' to turn ori' a pin"75. attached! to a bracket '7:7 fastened to the' underside of the platen 47e VAThe 'bottle Vsp'portingfand elevating member 10 is formed Ywith downwardly extending sides 16, 18 to form side" guides 'for the emptyf'bottles" being conveyed into the'machine on the incoming conveyer'beltfZi() and also forthe vlled bott-les l'eavingthe machine on the. outgoing conveyor." Provision 'is ma'de for "automatically moving the'bottle supporting and'elevtingmemberdd at'predetermined `tim`es-in the cf'y'cl'e 'ofVA operation' ofthe` machine in 'orderto elevatethe 'bottles` to purging and filling position'and t o subsequently lowerlthe member 1-0 to a position flush with the "incoming belt'20`and discharge belt 21., and-'for this purpose th'e member 10l is' rigidly attiachedto slide members 80 by means of brackets 81. The

lslideiriemlvers 88 are' guided.V in slideways formed in bracketsY 82 supported by the platen 47 above referred to. The' bottle 'supportingand-l elevating member 18 is actuated by'a ca m 84 fast on the camshaft 52 by connec- Vtions'betwe'en ita'ndthe cani including a'lever 86 fast onvthe rock shaft and including a cam lever 88 also fast 'on the rock shaft 50 and' which isV provided. with a cam roll 92 operating in the 'path 94 ofthe elevating cam `8.4. YDuring the operation ofV the1machine,when the botpositionbeneath the tillingnozzle units"'14 'and at the same time the row of previously iilledfbottles are pushed fewest@ f 4 laterally .frm the. battle wrestling and elevating mersber onto Ythewoutgoing'conifeye'r belt "Z'NtoVbemdischi-gd from the machine.

At each cycle in the operation of the machine, as the bottle supporting member is elevated, two rows of bottles are lifted until the mouth of; Veach bottle in each row contacts and makes a tight sealy with one of the series of purging nozzle'units 12 -and filling nozzle units 14 respectively. y Y lli-order t0 effect Emaille Qi lllertiw. 9 will@ .ill enegementwith the purging nozzle units 1.2, Provision is made for tirst evacuating the bottles to remove most of the air therefrom, and as herein shown, each purging nozzle unit`12 comprises a nozzle block 108 carried by a rod 102 supported in abracket 104 which is adjustablyV secured to an elongated bar 196 mounted on a bracket 108 attached to the upright frame portions 24 of the machine. The lower end of the. block is provided with a sealing collar 112 which may be of flexible material, such as rubber or the like, arranged for Sealing engagement with the totv of the bottle.

They bracket 1.0.4 is provided. with spaced bearing arras and a spr-ing 107 coiled. about the rod 102.31@ interposed between a collar- 1119 fart Qa the rodf102 The. #PRH arm 1.11 of. the bracket 1.04 is provided to permit the purging nozzle. unit 1.2. to yield. slightly when the mouth of the bottle engages its sealing collar 112 whereby to provide a firm seal. 'Ihe sealing collar 112 is mounted on the lower end o ty a tubular member 114 fixed in the 'block and provided with a central opening 1:16Hhavi'n'g lateral passagewaysA 118 communicating with a chamber 120 formed in the blockl which in turn communicates with passageways 112 in a checkV valve 124 connected by., a llexible @e126 @Macello naulfld. 128- Th vacuum'manifold 128 extends longitudinally. of the rila- Qllre and. is provided with@ plurality- Ofindividual 'tlibes 12:6y for. connection to' theY series of individual nozzle blocks 100. As"diagrammatically indicated in Fig'. bf6,l the manifold representezdl a t 1:28 is connected to a vacuum control valve'lzvll wllicliT in turn is connected by a pipe 132 to a v'agzguurfriA tanlc`13`4' and vacuuml pump '136 pro vided with a conventional relief valve 133 diagrammatically indicated in Fig( l`6.` Inv operation, thel vacuum control valve 138 is arranged to be opened to effect evacuation of the bottles immediately afterthe supporting vmeinber 1l)Y is'elevated to present "the bottles. into sealing engagernent with the nozzle units, the valve 130 being pneumatically actnatedby a vcam operated pilot valve 138 included ina compressed air line'Y 140 vconnected by a supply pipe 142, as 'shown in Fig. 16, to any usual or preferred source of compressedair.

Asillusvtra ted. inicletail in- Figs,`11 and 1 2, the vacuum controlfvalve 13.8- Vcomprises, a lious'ing144f having a low'- 146, A14S'isI arranged to. cut'offthevacunm tothe manifold. 128. "As herein shown, the valve member. 1.52v is provided with a depending "stemlpor-,tion 15.4. slidably fitted into a bore in a lower cap'member`156 andv is provided with an'upright stem 158, slidably received in an upper cap member 160. The spring 164 aided bythe vacuum. normally maintains the. valve member 152v in its closedposition, as shownv in Fig. ll, at which time the lower chamber 146 is open to the atmosphere through passageways 166 and atmospheric opening 1,68pin the cap member 156. An upperchamber 170 formed in the cap member. 16.0.y is arranged to slidably rece-ive a plunger 172 which, is normllylretained iu. engagement with the 'stem 158` ofthe valve member byl a spring 174. extended between the plunger and anoutercap member 176. The chamber 170 is connected by a pipe line 178-n leading to the pilot valve 138, and-fas shown in detail in Fig. 9, 'the E', pilot valve is provided With a spring pressed plunger 180 slidingly mounted therein, thepipe 178 communicating with an intermediate chamber 182 surrounding the jstem 181 of the plunger. The supply pipe 140 communicates with a lower chamber 186 through a passageway 188, and an upper chamber 185 communicates with an atmospheric opening 187. The plunger 180 is provided with enlarged diameter portions 190, 192 arrangedto seat against shouldered portions 194, 196`of the chambers `185, 186 respectively. Normally, the plunger 180 is held in its upper position lby the spring 183, as shown in Fig. 9, to cut oft the supply of compressed air from the pipe 140 leading to the chamber 182, and at'this time the line 178 is open to the atmosphere through chamber 185 and opening 187 so that the vacuum control valve 130 will normally remain in its upper Vor closed position under the influence of the spring 164 as shown in Fig. 11 and against the urging of the relatively vweaker spring 174 of the pneumatically operated plunger 172. When the plunger 180 is depressed from its closed position to the open position shown, in Fig. l0, compressed air is permitted to flow through the passageway 188, lower chamber 186, intermediate chamber 182 and passageway 191 to the pipe 178 leading to the Vacuum control valve 130, and the compressed air entering the chamber 170 effects depression of the plunger 172 to open the valve 152 to the position shown in Fig. 12, thereby closing the atmospheric opening 168 and permitting communication between the vacuum supply pipe 132 and the vacuum manifold 128. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the pilot valve 138 is arranged to be opened in timed relation to the elevation of the bottle supporting member by a cam 290 fast on the cam shaft 52 which cooperates with a roller 202 carried by one arm 204 of a lever pivotally mounted at 206. As shown in Fig. 4, a second arm 208 of the lever is provided with a spring 210 arranged to maintain the roller against its cam, and a third arm 212 is provided with a stud 214 arranged to engage the plunger 188 of the pilot valve.

In practice the evacuating operation is performed in a relatively short time in the cycle of operation, as indicated in the cam diagram, Fig. l5, and when the evacuation of the bottles is completed, the cam 200 effects closing of the pilot valve 138 to permit the vacuum control valve 138 to discontinue the vacuum to the manifold 128. It will be observed that the vacuum check valve 124 associated with each purging nozzle unit 12 is provided with a check ball 192 arranged to seat in an opening in the passageway 122 by gravity, as shown in Fig. 2, and when the vacuum is applied the ball will rise, as shown in Fig. 3, to permit communication between the vacuum lines and the bottles. Conversely, when the Vacuum is discontinued, the ball will fall into its seat to maintain the vacuum in the bottles until the purging operation is initiated. Y

From the description thus far it will be seen that in the operation of the machine as soon as the bottle supporting member has been elevated, the cam 200 actuates the pilot valve 138 to effect opening of the vacuum control valve 130 and evacuation of the bottles, whereupon the valve 130 is closed to discontinue the vacuum to the manifold 128. Thereafter, provision is made for introducing an inert gas into the evacuated bottles, and as illustrated in Fig. 16, the inert gas may be controlled by an inert gas or purging valve 216 connected to `a supply of inert gas by a pipe line 21S-Tand having'a-pie connection 221,` to the inert gas manifold 222. As shown in Fig. 1, the inert gas manifold 222 is provided with a plurality of flexible tube connections 270 which are connected by pipe nipples 272 extended from each nozzle block 100, and as illustrated in Fig. 2, e-ach nipple communicates with a chamber 274 and with a tube 276 carried by an adapter 278 fitted Within the block 100. The tube 276 extends through the central opening 116 to a point below the sealing collar 112 and `into the neck of ,6 the bottle as shown in Fig. 2. The purging valve 216 is also arranged to be pneumaticallycontrolled by a'cam operated pilot valve 224 which may be similar to the pilot valve 138 and which is included in a compressed air line 226 connected to the main supply line 142 as shown in Fig. 16. Also connected in the pipe line 226 is a normally openv clutch actuated pilot valveV 260 to be described, and as illustrated in detail in Fig. 7, the inert gas valve is provided with a valve member 228 slidingly mounted therein, oneportion 230 of the valve being arranged to cut off ports 232 between the supply line 218 and the connecting pipe 220 to the manifold when in its closed position, as shown in Fig. 7, and when the valve member is in its open position, .as shown in Fig. 8, the gas may ow through the ports 232 and annular groove 234 into a chamber 236 defined by the valve portions 230, 231, the chamber communicating with the connecting pipe 220 through ports 238 and annular groove 240. As illustrated in Fig. 7, the valve member 228 is normally maintained in its closed position by a spring 242 and is arranged to be pneumatically operated by a spring pressed plunger 244 slidingly mounted in a chamber 245 in the valve and arranged to engage the end of the valve member 228. The chamber 245 is connected by a pipe 247 to the pilot valve 260 and, as shown in Fig. 16, the pilot valve 224 is provided with a plunger 246V which, as shown in Fig. 5, is arranged to be depressed by a cam 248 fast on the cam shaft 52 through connections including a roller 250 carried by a lever 252 also pivotally mounted at 286, the lever being provided with a stud 254 for engagement with the plunger 246.

In the operation of the machine as soon as the bottles have been evacuated and the vacuum has been cut off, the cam 248 actuates the pilot valve- 224 to effect opening of the purging valve 216, whereupon the inert gas may ow into the manifold 222 to be drawn into the evacuated bottles to etect purging thereof. In practice the inert gas may and preferably will be under a pressure slightly above atmospheric pressure, and when the pressure'of the inert gas in the containers reaches atmospheric pressure the surplus gas may escape through the passageways 122 and 194 of the ball check valve 124 into the vacuum manifold 128, the vacuum being discontinued at this time.

As indicated in Fig. 16, the second pilot valve 260 may be connected in the compressed air line between pipes 226, 247 and is arranged to be actuated by a control bar 262 operatively -connected by a link .264 to the clutch lever 266 of the machine. The control bar 262 is arranged to engage and depress a plunger 268 of the pilot valve 260 when the clutch is thrown in to start operation of the machine so that in operation the pilot valve 268 is normally open. The lpilot valve 260 is provided as a safety feature so that in the event the clutch is thrown out by rocking the clutch lever to the right, as viewed in Fig. 16, 'during the purging operation, the normally depressed plunger 268 ofthe pilot Valve 260 is permitted to rise into the notch 263 formed Vin the bar 262 under the influence of the spring contained in the pilot valve to cut ol the supply of compressed air' and permit the purging valve 216 to be closed, thereby preventing the escape of inert gas when the machine is shut down.

K Upon introduction of the inert gas into thepreviously evacuated bottles the purging valve 216 is closed by the cam 248, and the supporting member 10 is lowered to bring the bottles in line with the incoming and discharge conveyers. As illustrated in Fig. 1, when the supporting member 10 is initially elevated, the necks of the 'bottles are guided into openings formed in a guide bar 280, a plurality of which are adjustably mounted on horizontal rods 282 which are supported and slidably movable as a unit on vertical rods 284 depending from the underside of the `bracket 108. Thus, at the end of the purging and :filling operations the guide bars 280 follow the bottles down to poing to rest pn ollars 281 on the ends of the vertical rods 284as shown in Fig, 1.

In a modied'torm ofcontrol for the purging operation the bottles maybe alternately subjected to evacuating and purging operations whereby to provide a'reversal of operation a predetermined number of times during the cycle of' operation sufficient to completely purge the 'bottles whereby to reduce the air content to a minimum, the final portipn of operation prior to separation of the bottles from the purging nozzle units 12 preferably being the admission Yof inertgas into the evacuated bottles. Sucessive reversals of operation, as described, cause llushing and diluting of the air in the bottles with the inert gas'so that in practice the completely purged bottles are substantially devoid of air. Since the inert gas will -be substantially at atmospheric pressure, it will not tend to escape from the bottles when 4separated from the purging nozzle units 12. As illustrated in Fig. 18, the cams foi' performing successive reversals of operation may include a vacuum control valve cam 283 and a purging cam 285 which may be substituted for the cams 200, 248 respectively and which, as illustrated, are provided with high and low spots arranged to open and close their 'respective valves in succession as described, through their respective pilot` valves 138, 224 and connecting linkages.

While the apparatus thus far described may be used with advantage as a purging apparatus, it is preferred to incorporate it in a'unitary combination purging and filling apparatus, and as herein shown, the filling nozzle unitsl 14', which are arranged parallel to the purging nozr' z le units 12, as shown in Figs; l and 2, are each slidably mounted in a bracket 300 attached to a longitudinal bar 302 supported by the bracket 108 attached to the upright `frames 24 resting on and fastened to the platen 47 of the machine frame. A spring 3.04 encircling a stern 366 of each filling nozzle unit 14 is provided to allow the filling nozzle Vto yield slightly as the mouth of the bottle cornes in contact with the rubber collar 308 on the bottom of each nozzle. The lower endV of the spring 304 rests on a collar 31! fast onthe stentV 306 of the nozzle, and the l Upper @11d 0f the. Spring bears, against the upper bearing :of the bracket ih "thus, it willA be seen that if a bottle should be out of' proper alignment with a nozzle when the velevator is raised and any one o the nozzles should strike the top edge of` the bottle, the spring .'tifl'woul'd yield and thus prevent breakage of the bottle.

' above described,l in the operation of the illustrated machine provision is made for effecting1 the operation of the bottle. filling mechanism te ll the. row o previously purged bottles simultaneously with the purging of the row '01? bottles under the.. purging nozzle units 1,2, and while lany tilting, mellansm may b'emrloyed, we prefer t0 effect' the fill-ing of the bottles by mechanism constructed andA operatingA in accordance with the United States patent to Pennock, No,"l73 7`,6 77, to which reference may be I made.H For the purpose of,v understanding the present inventionit'is thought s utlicient to state that the bottles are filled; by the well known vacuum principle as clearly set forth in said Pennock patent. The liquid with which the bottles are to be filled'is contained in a tank 312 1ocated at the back of,- the machine and vbelow the level of `the bottles to be filled'. The liquid is drawn by vacuum created in the bottle through a suction pipe 314, one end of which is immersed 'in the liquid of the tank,/the yotherY end ot which is connected to the filling nozzle units 3v154 ata nipple 31,6. A suction pump, indicated generally at313 in Fig. -17 and' ot well known construction,A is vconnected through novel control mechanismA to he described toa pipe-320 which leads'into and has an opening at the top of aninvertedbowl 322: kA vacuum is created in the bowli- 322 by the suctionA pump, and when the mouth ot thev bottleiis sealed by the rubber collar 308, as shown in Eig.. 1', the. vacuum inthe bowl operates through a check Halve. 32,4, a manifold pipe 326, flexible tubing 328 and a passageway 330= extending down. through: the iilli-ngrnoz- 8 zle unit 1`4 into the 'inside of the bottle to evacuate the bottle. The suction of the bottleV is connected with the suction pipe 314 'by a tubular member v332 positioned concentrically inside of an outer tube 334, and the passageway through this tube 332 is connected with a chamber 336 of the filling nozzle unit 14 which in turn is connected with the suction pipe 314.

When the air is exhausted from the bottle to be lled, the liquid in the tank 312 will be caused to flow through the suction pipe 314 through the chamber 336 and through the tube 332 into the bottle. When the bottle is filled so that the liquid reaches the bottom'of filling tube 332, the suction from the vacuum pump draws oit any further liquid coming into the bottle through the annular passageway between tubes 332, 334 into lchamber 330 and through flexible tube 328 and manifold 326 into the bowl 322, and the surplus liquid may subsequently be returned to the tank 312 by gravity, thus tilting all bottles to the same height. g

It' will be observed that the filling operation automatically comences when theV elevator 10 lifts the bottles to lling position and is completed before the elevator again descends. When the elevatorv10 descends and the contact is broken between the rubber collar 308 and the mouth yof the bottle, the suction in the bottle is broken and the flow of liquid from the tank 312 through the lling nozzle units 14 is terminated. Any surplus liquid that is drawn into the bowl 32-2 finds its way back to the tank 312 through a drain pipe 340 which is provided on its end with a check valve 342 for preventing the flow of liquid through this pipe when the bowl 322 is under vacuum. As illustrated in Fig. 17, two bowls 322, 323 may be used, and the suction line from the vacuum pump 318 may be connected through a cam operated slide valve, indicated generally at 344, designed to operate periodically to release the vacuum on the bowls alternately, as clearly set forth in the Pennoclr patent, No. 1,737,677.

In the operation of the vacuum filling mechanism thus far described the inert gas evacuated from the bottles is replaced by the liquid during the filling operation, and when a predetermined filling level is reached, surplus liquid is ,drawn into the inverted bowls 322, 323 to be returned to the supply tank 312, as above described. As illustrated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 1, the entire upper portion of the machine is provided'with a hood 500 substantially enclosing the purging and filling mechanisms and the intake and discharge conveyers 20, 21, and the interior of the hood is continuously charged withnitrogen gas from a supply thereof through one or more nozzles 502 whereby to provide an atmosphere of nitrogen gas about the bottles slightly abovey atmospheric pressure during the conveying, purging and filling operations,V thus preventing air from entering the. open mouths of the purged bottles when being moved from the purging to thc lling station and when being moved from the filling station to the discharge conveyer. In practice the hood charged with nitrogen gas may be extended along the discharge conveyer to prevent air from entering the open mouths of the containers during their progress to a subsequent machine for applying closures to the containers whereby to provide a flled'and closed' container substantially devoid of air. In practice in the conventional filling machines the suction is usually continued at the same rate after the seal is broken between the filling nozzle units 14 Vand the containers in order to prevent gravitational drip of the liquid from the nozzles. However, in accordance with another feature of the present invention provision is made for substantially reducing the suction at this time 'to a point sufficient to prevent drip from the nozzles and yet such as to prevent excessive withdrawal of the inert 'gas from the interior of the hood 500 whereby to maintain a protective atmosphere of inert gas around the coutainersl and to prevent air from being drawn into4 the interior ofVA the hood. As shownY inV the piping diagram, Fig. 17, this may be accomplished* by including a vacuum control valve 400 in the suction line between the vacuum pump 318 and the cam operated slide valve 344, and also a by-pass line having a manually operated pressure regulator 402 connected between the mainrvacuum line 405 and the pipe line 404 by pipes 406, 408. The vacuum control valve 400 is arranged to be pneumatically operated by a cam operated pilot valve 410 which may be similar to the pilot valve 138 shown in Fig. 9. As illustrated in detail in Figs. 13 and 14, the vacuum control valve may include a housing 414 having an upper chamber 416 which communicates with the pipe line 404, and an intermediate chamber 418 which communicates with the pipe line 419 connected to the main supply line 405. A valve member 420 is arranged to seat in a shouldered portion 422 between the chambers 416, 418 to cut olf the suction between the pipes 419, 404, the valve member having an upright stem portion 421 which is guided in an upper cap member 424 and a depending stem portion 423 arranged to cooperate with a pneumatically operated plunger 426 slidably mounted in a cap member 425 secured to the lower end of the housing 414. The valve member 420 is normally urged into an open position, as shown in Fig. 14, by a spring 428. The plunger 426 operates in a chamber 430 and is normally urged into engagement with the depending stem 423 of the valve member 420 by. a relatively weaker spring 432. Referring now to Fig. 17, the chamber 430 of the valve 400 is connected by a pipe 434 to the outlet of the pilot valve 410, the inlet of the pilot valve being connected by a pipe 436 to any usual or preferred supply of compressed air. The pilot valve 410 is provided with a plunger 43S which is arranged to be depressed to open the pilot valve during or immediately after the seal is broken between the filling nozzle units 14 and the bottles. As illustrated in Fig. 5, this may be accomplished by a cam 440 fast on the cam shaft 52 and which cooperates with a roller 442 carried by a lever 444 pivotally mounted at 446. As shown in Fig. 4, a second arm 448 of the lever is provided with a spring 459 for holding the roll against its cam, and a third arm 452 is provided with a stud 454 for engagement with the plunger 438. The suction line 419 may be provided with a conventional relief valve 456, as illustrated in Fig. 17. Thus, in practice when the filling operation is completed and the seal is broken the vacuum control valve 400 is closed, thereby cutting ol the suction through the control valve 400, the suction being continued at a reduced rate through the by-pass pipe line 406, the pressure regulator 402 and pipe line 408 to the main supply line 405. Thus, in operation the suction through the filling nozzle tubes 334 is 'reduced at the end of the filling operation to prevent excessive withdrawal of the inert gas from the hood. After the bottles have been purged and filled in the manner described and the elevator has moved to its lower position, the filled bottles are ejected onto the outgoing belt 21 by the movement of the next and previously purged row in position beneath the lling nozzles. As previously described, the contents of the filled bottles are protected from the air by an atmosphere of nitrogen gas introduced into the hooded portions during the discharge and conveyance of the bottles to subsequent machines for theA application of closures thereto, thus preventing air from entering the space above the level of the liquid in the filled bottles during such conveyance and until the closure is applied.

From the above description it will be observed that the present unitary purging and lling machine is adaptedto evacuate a rowof containers to remove most of the air therefrom and to then admit an inert gas into the bottles to mix with and dilute any air remaining in the bottles after evacuation thereof whereupon the bottles are vacuum lled in a manner such as to provide a filled container substantially devoid of air. In this manner the oxygen content of the filled bottles is reduced to a minimum Vwhereby to prevent oxidzation of those bottled or pack- 1'0 aged food products which are particularly susceptible to contamination upon exposure to the air.

It will also be observed that the Vabove described manner of purging and filling containers by first evacuating the air in the container and then introducing an inert gas therein effects a substantial economy in the use of such gas. That is, by merely replacing with inert ga-s the air evacuated from the container while the mouth of the container is in sealed engagement with the evacuating and purging apparatus, a much smaller volume of gas is required as compared with prior purging apparatus wherein a stream of inert gas is blown into the open mouth of a container to mix with and dilute the air therein. Also, by reducing the suction of the vacuum filling nozzles during the time the latter are disengaged from the containers, a substantial economy in the use of the gas within the hooded portion is effected.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described it will be understood that the invention maybe embodied in other forms Within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the character described, in combination, two laterally spaced nozzles for cooperation with separate containers, container supporting means for supporting two containers, each in operative position and sealing engagement with relation to one of said nozzles, one of said nozzles constituting a purging nozzle and being operatively connected to a source of suction and to a source of inert gas, control means for controlling the application of suction through said purging nozzle -to a container cooperating therewith and for controlling the flow of inert gas into the container through said purging nozzle, means for operating said control means to first evacuate the air from the container disposed in operative position with respect to said purging nozzle and for thereafter introducing inert gas through said nozzle into the container thus evacuatedwhile maintained in said sealing engagement, means for removing the thus purged container from said sealing engagement Iinto operative sealing engagement with the second nozzle, means for thereafter filling the container with a liquid through said second nozzle and means enclosing said nozzles and containers in an atmosphere of inert gas at a pressure slightly above atmospheric pressure during said purging and filling operations.

2. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a purging nozzle, container supporting means for supporting a container in operative position and sealing engagement with relation to said purging nozzle, said purging nozzle being operatively connected to a source of suction and to a source of inert gas, control means for controlling the application of suction through the nozzle Yto the container and the flow of inert gas into the container i through said nozzle, means for operating the control means to first evacuate the container and then introduce inert gas therein while remaining in said sealed engagement with the purging nozzle, container filling mechanism including a second nozzle spaced from said first nozzle'for subsequently filling the purged container, and means for maintaining said nozzle and filling mechanism in an atmosphere of inert gas at slightly above atmospheric pressure during said purging and filling operations.

3. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, container supporting means for supporting two containers, laterally spaced container purging mechanism and container filling mechanism, each provided with a nozzle for sealing engagement with one of said containers, said purging nozzle being operatively connected to a source of vacuum and a source of inert gas, means for controlling the fiow of air and gas through said purging nozzle to first evacuate air from the container and to then admit inert gas into the container while maintained in said sealing engagement to reduce to a minimum the air content of the container prior to the filling operation,

means toiY thereafter removingl the container from vsaid sealed engagement and for moving the purged container 'laterally and into operative sea-ling engagement with the tiltingV nozzle to be filfed, andmeans for Ymaintaining said nozzles in an atmosphere of an inert gas slightly above atmospheric pressure toV prevent air from entering the purged containers upon separation'firom sealing engagement with their respective purging and filling mechanisms, whereby'to produce a filledA c ontainersubstan-tially free 'of air. i Y.

`4. In a machine of the character described, in conibination, a purging nozzlgcontainer supporting means for supporting aI container inoperative position ,and sealing engagement with rel-ation to said purging nozzle, said purging nozzle beingoperatively connected to a source of suction and to a source of inert gas, control means for controlling the application of suctionthrough the nozzle kto-'the container' andthe flow vof inert gas into the conrainer through said nozzle, `means forioprerating the control' means to first evacuate .the container and then introduce inert gas therein While being maintained in .said sealed engagement to enable said container to be subsequently filled with minimum air therein,iand means including a vacuum filling nozzle spaced laterally from said purging nozzle for subsequently filling the container.

5. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, laterally spaced container purging mechanism and container vacuum filling mechanism, each provided with a nozzle for sealing engagement with a container,

said purging nozzle having a suction opening and an inert gas opening each in communication With the interior of a container, a source of vacuum and a source of inert gas operatively connected with said openings, means for controlling the flow of air and gas to first create avacuum in the container to evacuate the air therein and to then admit inert gars into the container While maintained in said sealing engagement to reduce to a minimum the air content of the container prior to the vacuum filling operation Whereby to produce a filled container substantially Ydevoid of air.

6. ln apparatus of the character described, in cornbination, laterally spaced, container purging mechanism and. container filling mechanism, each .provided with a nozzle for sealing engagement with `a container, said purging nozzle having a suction opening and an inert gas opening for communication with the interior of the container, a source of Vvacuum and a sourceofainert gas operatively connected with said openings, vmve means controlling the liow or" said air and-gas,imeans for actuating said valve means to first createa vacuum in the container to remove most of the air therefrom and then admit inert gas into the container to mix with and dilute any remaining air in the container while maintained in said scaling engagement to reduce to a minimum the air contentof thercontainer prior to the filling operation,

and means for thereafter removing the container from said sealing engagement and for moving the purged container laterally and into operative Sealing engagement with the filling nozzle to be filled whereby to produce a filled container substantially devoid of air.

7. The method of filling a container with a liquid comprising the steps of first evacuating the container, then admitting an inert gas into Vthe evacuated container while being maintained in sealing engagement with one nozzle, removing the container from said sealing engagement and filling the container with a liquid through a second nozzle, said evacuating and filling operations being conducted in an atmosphere of an inert gas slightly above atmospheric pressure.

8. The method of filling a container with a liquid which consists in first moving the container into sealing engagement with a nozzle, then applying suction to the nozzle to evacuate the container, then discontinuing the suction and introducing an inert gas into the evacuated container' While maintaining it in sealed engagement with the nozzie, Vrernfnfi-ngthe container from'said sealed engagement and then moving the container into sealing engagementfwith a'second nozzle and withdrawing the inert Vgas from the container and filling the container with liquid throughsaid second'nozzle. i

9. In apparatus ofthe character described, in combination, container purging mechanism and container filling mechanism, each provided with a nozzle for sealing engagement with a container, said purging nozzle having a suction opening and an inert gas opening for' communication with the interior of vthe container, a source of vacuum and a Source Yof inert gas operatively connected. with said openings, valve means` controlling the flow of said air and; gas, means for actuating said valve means to first create a vacuum in the container to removemost of the air'therefromjand then, admit inert gas ntothe containerto mix with yand dilute any remainingv air in the containerto reduce to a minimum the air content of the container prior tothe filling operation, meansv for thereafter moving theV purged container into operative engagement with the, l'ling nozzle to be filled wherebyrto produce a 'lled container substantially devoid of ainand a check valve associated with `the, purging nozzle adapted to close said suction opening upon discontinuance of the vacuum whereby to maintain `the vacuum in the container until the inert gas is admitted, i

l0. In apparatus of *theV character described, in combination, container purging mechanism and container filling mechanism, each provided with a nozzle for sealing engagement with a.' container, said purging nozzle having a suction opening and' an inert gas opening for communication with the interior of the container, a source of vacuum andV a source of inert gas operatively connected with said openings, valve means controlling the ow ofv saidair and gas, means for actuating said valve means to first create a vacuum in thev container to remove most of the air therefrom andV then admit inert gas into the container to mix with andV dilute any remaining air in the container to reducer tov a minimum the Vair content of the .container prior Yto the filling operation, and means for thereafterlmoving the purged container intooperative engagement Withvthe filling nozzle to be fillediwhereby to produce a filled container substantially devoid of air, said means for actuating said valve means including individual cam operated pilot valves operatively .connected to the air and gas valves.

1l. In apparatus of the.. character described, in combination, vcontainer purging mechanism and container filling mechanism, eachprovided with. a nozzle for sealing engagement with a container, said purging nozzle-having a suction opening4 and an inert gas opening for communication with the interior of the container, a` source of vacuum "and a source of inert gas operatively connected with said openings, valve meansv controlling the ow of said air and ganmeans for actuzfiting` said valve means, to first create a vacuum inthe container'to remove most oi the air ltherefrom and then admit inert gas into/the container to mix with and dilute any remaining air in the container to reduce to a minimum the air content ofv the container prior to the filling operation, and means for thereafter moving-` the, purged container'cinto Voperative engagement with' thellingY nozzle tol be filled whereby to produce a `fill-ed"'container substantially devoid ofV air, said valve actuating means being arranged to alternately create a vacuum 'in the .container and admit gas therein' a plurality of 'timesduring'the purging operation. i

l2. In a machine of the character described, in com bnationf two nozzlesA for Vcooperation with separate.v con- Atainers-container supporting meansfor supporting two containers, eachA in operativey position with relation to one ,of said nozzles, one of said nozzles constituting a purging nozzle and b eingoperatively connected to a. source, of S1119.- tionandtofa, sourceo inertfga's,l control means for controlling the application, of'suction, through ysaid-nozzle `to a container cooperating therewithand for controlling the ow of inert gas into the container through said nozzle, means for operating said control means to first evacuate the air from the container disposed in operative position with respect to said purging nozzle and for there after introducing inert gas through said nozzle into the container thus evacuated, means for moving the thus purged container into operative engagement with the second nozzle, means for thereafter filling the container with a liquid through said second nozzle, and means enclosing said nozzles and containers in an atmosphere of inert gas at a pressure slightly above atmospheric pressure during said purging and iilling operations, said filling operation being by Vacuum, and means for continuing the vacuum at a reduced rate at the end of the filling operation.

13. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, container purging mechanism and container iilling mechanism, each provided with a nozzle for sealing engagement with a container, said purging nozzle having a suction opening and an inert gas opening for 'communication with the interior of the container, a source of vacuum and a source of inert gas operatively connected with said openings, valve means controlling the ilow of said air and gas, means for actuating said valve means to first create a vacuum in the container to remove most of the air therefrom and then admit inert gas into the container to mix with and dilute any remaining air in the container to reduce to a minimum the air content of the container prior to the lling operation, means for thereafter moving the purged container into operative engagement with the iilling nozzle to be illed whereby to produce a filled container substantially devoid of air, said means for actuating said valve means including individual cam operated pilot valves operatively connected to the air and gas valves, driving means and a clutch controlling said driving means, a second pilot valve operatively connected with said gas valve arranged to be opened when the clutch is engaged and to be closed when the clutch is disengaged whereby to prevent escape of gas in the event the operation of the machine is discontinued during the purging operation.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,965,246 Meyer July 3, 1934 2,239,691 Becker Apr. 29, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 696,569 Germany Sept. 24, 1940 

